MamaGravity
good back-story, and good acting
Invaderbank
The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.
Lela
The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.
Yazmin
Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.
dougdoepke
Move over Betty Grable and Joan Blondell because Dale Evans really gets to show her musical and acting chops in this oater. It's a Dale you don't ordinarily see once she settled into Roy's loyal sidekick. Here she shows the kind of spark that would have gotten her a succession of '30's B-musicals ten years earlier. I sure don't blame Roy for grabbing her for a life-time. But please, Roy, don't lock her again in the jouncing boot of a stagecoach with only Limburger cheese to grab onto. It's not a good way to court a girl.All in all, the 70-minutes amounts to a really good matinée entry. The plot's more convoluted than usual, with Dale as a reporter investigating who's really buried in Wildcat Kelly's grave where Roy owns a dude ranch. Notably, her role requires an aggressive side we don't ordinarily see. Then too, the plot offers up several twists unlike the usual oater. And mustn't overlook the great Gabby Hayes in a more complex role than usual, but showing his usual ornery brand of entertaining humor. Then too, catch those two refugees from urban gangster flicks—Marc Lawrence and Douglas Fowley. Good thing they didn't have to 'mount up'. There may be less action or good scenery than usual, but the pluses more than compensate. Anyhow, add the Sons of the Pioneers and an outstanding array of western tunes to the mix, and how can even non-front row kids lose.An "8" on the Matinée Scale.
wes-connors
Big city photographer Dale Evans (as Toni Ames) is sent west to investigate whether or not notorious outlaw "Wildcat Kelly" is really buried in the grave bearing his name. In "Twin Wells", she meets salty sidekick George "Gabby" Hayes polishing his tomb, then singing cowboy pal Roy Rogers (as Roy Rogers). There is much pleasant singing by Mr. Rogers and The Sons of the Pioneers, with an emphasis on the swaying title song. In an early appearance with her future husband, Ms. Evans looks uncommonly sexy, showing every allowable inch of her legs. The film is softly plotted, breezy, and tuneful.***** Don't Fence Me In (10/20/45) John English ~ Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Robert Livingston
Mike Newton
In looking over Helen Talbot's list of film appearances on the IMB, I noticed that she supposedly appearance in Don't Fence Me In, as a dancer. There is an opening dance number in the beginning of the film where Dale masquerades as a dancer trying to get an "uncover" story on a politician who professes to be a "Law and Order" man with family values, but is really a dirty old man who likes pinching show girls. Dale is dressed up in a cute little outfit that shows off her legs. She was really a good looking gal and it is ironic that she would even play a part considering her late years as a "Christian" role model mother. But that's another issue. Helen, although she was an actual glamor model and had been a Goldwyn Girl briefly before coming to Republic, does not appear on camera. I have run that sequence through my video machine at slow speed and cannot find any evidence that she was indeed in that film. The same thing in SONG OF NEVADA, another Rogers musical, where she was supposedly cast as an airline stewardess. I stand ready for correction, gentlemen.
revran
This film is definitely a classic of the Saturday Matinee Singing Cowboy Western. With the King of the Cowboys, Roy Rogers, the irrepressible George "Gabby" Hayes, the beautiful young and spunky Dale Evans and Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers you can't go wrong. Dale plays an undercover reporter out to do a story on a lost fortune and a dead bank robber. She travels to a Dude Ranch run by Roy and Gabby and the Sons of the Pioneers. Roy takes her for a ride in one hilarious scene with a Stagecoach. Gabby plays dead, coffin and all, . in one of the funniest scenes he's ever done. Elementary age kids just love this one so the family will really enjoy the ride.